Author: kfskadmin

An emaciated young female sea lion rescued from the rocks in Scow Bay south of Petersburg last Thursday died before it could be transported to the Alaska Sea Life center in Seward. The Petersburg Marine Mammal Center, volunteers and Sea Life Center staff were hoping to nurse the sick animal back to good health in Seward, before returning it to Southeast Alaska. Instead, they’ll try to find out why the sea lion died.

Across the state, the rules will be changing this year for high school students in extracurricular activities who are caught using alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Petersburg’s school board this spring is seeking public comment on a rule outlining new minimum punishments for students and they have to adopt some form of a new statewide policy before the start-up of school sports this summer. The board Tuesday debated whether to go with a stricter local version of the alcohol and drug policy.

A new Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement will mean fewer king salmon for commercial fishing fleets in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia. The proposed bilateral agreement, announced thursday, is a 10-year extension of the existing treaty, set to expire at the end of this year. It lays out fishing quotas, research and overall management of all species of salmon in the Pacific northwest, Alaska and Canada

Over 300 young children in Southeast Alaska got a head start in school through the national Head Start program this year. The educational program focuses on several key aspects of a child's development. That includes social interaction, family support and nutrition as well as cognitive skills like literacy. The program is administered by Tlingit-Haida Central Council in most Southeast towns, including Petersburg.
Nineteen children aged 3-5 were enrolled in Petersburg’s program this year. Earlier this month, a large crowd of friends and family filled the Presbyterian Church for their graduation ceremony. The event included homemade Native regalia and drumming. Matt Lichtenstein put together this audio portrait.

The Little Norway Festival is the biggest event of the year for Petersburg and this year it was even bigger since the community was celebrating the event's 50th anniversary. The festival featured music from the Pickled Herring Band and the Kodiak Island Drummers, a crowd of resident and transient vikings and valkyries in a new viking mobile and four days packed with events including a Norwegian style show, the Kaffee Hus, parade and the festival pageant. Matt Lichtenstein gathered sounds and voices throughout Mayfest and produced this audio postcard.